Charging Lithium Batteries in Cold Weather
Lithium batteries can often discharge in colder conditions than they are allowed to charge in . That distinction is easy to miss. A battery may still power equipment on a cold morning while its battery-management system refuses to accept charging until the cells become warmer. The practical rule is therefore not: “Lithium batteries cannot be used in the cold.” It is: Charging limits depend on battery chemistry, cell temperature, BMS settings and the manufacturer's specification. Cold Discharge and Cold Charging Are Different Problems Temperature affects several aspects of battery behaviour. At lower temperatures, internal resistance can increase and the battery may deliver less usable capacity or power than it would under warmer conditions. That does not automatically mean charging is safe under the same conditions. The distinction is: Cold discharge: energy is leaving the battery. Cold charging: energy is being pushed back into the battery. Those processes place different elec...